Electronic Tax Return: Tips on matching software – N24

Until May 31 the tax office wants to see the tax return. But as it often is several hundred euros back, it’s worth it to be faster. Many rely on software.

Many go to law?

in the spring to the tax office, pick up a pack forms on gray-green paper and book a weekend. Then be retrieved collected receipts in shoe boxes or folders and entered in the tax return

Faster than with pen and paper, it is but the computer -. Either with purchased software or the free Elster program of financial management. Time can be saved as by the pre-filled electronic tax returns. Their basic idea is that the tax office some information, such as address, bank details or number of children present and others like income tax and health insurance are received electronically. To use it all, but you have to be registered once under Elsteronline.de and have applied for an electronic certificate.

“But the tax authorities do not know everything”, warns Markus Fischer of the Stiftung Warentest. Therefore, no one should simply hand the pre-filled statement, but to supplement it by the information, allow easy save taxes. “These are, for example, travel costs, expenses for child care or craftsmen.”

Anyone who uses the software of financial management “needs to know where the information to be made,” explains Fischer. “Elster does not help one in the tax return, whereas commercial software has this claim.” . As with the help apps insist their basic idea is, the user to ask the right questions

The fact that this difference can cost money, shows a test of the “Computer Bild” (issue 6/16): reader sat under the supervision of the computer and entered their tax data. “Allen reckoned Elster a lower tax refund than the commercial programs” summarizes “Computer Bild” editor André Hesel together the result. Another Magpie criticism: “Some data has been entered incorrectly due to lack of user guidance.” In addition, purchase programs experienced Packages about checking account out -. Not Elster

“Elster is not intuitive to use,” confirms “financial test” expert fisherman. Who is but already become sooner finished the forms come with Elster clearly and save time and paper. So fewer documents must be sent to the authority about transmission by electronic means. And if the digital statement has arrived in time to the tax office server, missing documents may also be submitted later.

Who’s afraid to bring electronic perhaps rashly false information on the way, can continue to print the completed with control software forms just read, think again about sleep and even proposed still personally at the tax office. Both can also be combined, explains André Hesel. The data could be sent digitally to the tax office without a certificate, and a compressed tax return on paper, we then refilled. However, in this case, not the electronic submission, but the receipt of the paper declaration to the tax office is crucial for the deadline.

On the skills of an accountant is the opinion of fishermen and Hesel not approach even the best software. Worthwhile the Consult the professionals is especially true when it comes to commercial or self-employment. Many homeowners who feed with a photovoltaic system power, is about not aware that this meant business income, says Anne Kathrin Wernsdorf, Speaker in Steuerberaterverband. And self-employed offers an accountant addition business advice.

“However, is considered by many workers that a tax advisor about the amount costs, he saves” says editor Hesel. “Anyone who is unsure what he is doing and write in need, can also contact a Lohnsteuerhilfeverein” adds Fischer. United are the two in another point: It is worthwhile almost always to make a tax return. For those who have it not yet convinced Fischer has a peace of mind: “If you voluntarily file a tax return, and there is still a payment, you can even withdraw.”

The price of the control helper on PC is approximately between 15 and 40 euros. Who wants to save that sum this year and once again use the program from 2015, will be disappointed.

On the one hand respect the provider that they produced results can be characterized as a tax return in 2016 only with the current software. And besides, there is every year changes, which concern not only individual groups, but all taxpayers, emphasized André Hesel of the “Computer Image”.

With the making of the declarations of the job of the purchased software is still not over: Many programs can analyze the electronic tax return. Discover errors, matching sample letters are provided for many individual cases that simple opposition to the tax office may be charged explains Hesel. “Some programs are more than 200″.